2 John 8-10
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
8 Look to yourselves that you[a] do not lose what we worked for but may receive a full recompense. 9 (A)Anyone who is so “progressive”[b] as not to remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God; whoever remains in the teaching has the Father and the Son. 10 [c]If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him in your house or even greet him;(B)
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- 8 You (plural): it is not certain whether this means the Christians addressed or includes the Presbyter, since some of the ancient Greek manuscripts and Greek Fathers have “we.”
- 9 Anyone who is so “progressive”: literally, “Anyone who goes ahead.” Some gnostic groups held the doctrine of the Christ come in the flesh to be a first step in belief, which the more advanced and spiritual believer surpassed and abandoned in his knowledge of the spiritual Christ. The author affirms that fellowship with God may be gained only by holding to the complete doctrine of Jesus Christ (1 Jn 2:22–23; 4:2; 5:5–6).
- 10–11 At this time false teachers were considered so dangerous and divisive as to be shunned completely. From this description they seem to be wandering preachers. We see here a natural suspicion of early Christians concerning such itinerants and can envisage the problems faced by missionaries such as those mentioned in 3 Jn 10.
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